Bad Berleburg. To draw people away from their couches, chips, and streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney Plus and others, it takes more these days than just a cinema. Christian Kocherscheidt knows this well. Together with HCK GmbH & Co. KG – behind which stand Hans, Christian and Katrin Kocherscheidt – he is investing in the new Capitol to bring cultural life back to the center of Bad Berleburg. The concept, which is to be realized at the familiar location, is only the second of its kind in Germany.
Cinema, hotel, and restaurant – united as they will be in the new Capitol – currently exist in this combination only in Buxtehude, making the concept otherwise unique across Germany. “Almost a year and a half ago, we started thinking about this when it became clear that the cinema would have to close for health reasons. Since deciding to take over the cinema, a great many ideas and considerations have gone into the project,” said Kocherscheidt on Wednesday at the construction site.
Initial demolition work
The shovel for the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony already stands against a wall that will soon become part of the new restaurant. Initial demolition work is already underway in the former residential area of the building, as a new staircase must be constructed to provide an adequate escape route for hotel guests and cinema visitors. “The old one simply did not meet the required standards,” explains architect Monika Weber-Pahl (Pahl und Weber-Pahl Planungsgesellschaft Darmstadt). Work inside the building is also progressing – but visitors to the former cinema will still recognize “their” Capitol. “We have preserved and stored many elements, including furniture and technical equipment. All of it will be reinstalled,” says Kocherscheidt. The New Capitol will retain its current 1950s and 1960s aesthetic, complemented by modern architecture. The building will also meet contemporary technical and energy standards, utilizing digital infrastructure and low-CO₂ energy sources.
Support
Kocherscheidt emphasizes that the start of construction work was also made possible thanks to the support of the town of Bad Berleburg. “I really have to say thank you. Even during the initial discussions, when I was still unsure, the administration provided a great deal of support,” he explains. Construction is scheduled to be completed and the opening to take place in autumn 2022 – “coincidentally around the same time as a major anniversary of a large screw manufacturer in the region,” Kocherscheidt adds with a smile. At that point, the cinema will finally reopen with the promised event character.
Newspaper article from the Westfalenpost, September 2, 2021, by Lisa Klaus.